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IN THIS ISSUE:

The Immutable Law of God Christ Our Righteousness The Seventh-day Sabbath The Three Angels’ Messages The Non-Immortality of the Soul The Sanctuary

FOUNDATIONour firm

In the Throne Room of Grace

2 Our Firm Foundation

Editorial E. G. White

As I write this editorial, it is the middle of October. Here in the mountains of North Carolina above the Asheville area, it is beautiful. The trees have their shades of gold, their pinks and reds and oranges. They shimmer against the blue sky as the rays of the sun play upon their leaves. The cold of winter is just ahead of us, and yes, we do get some snow here. I have been in the process of “getting in” my wood for our three wood-burning stoves. Country living is work, but it is a work that I love, and it helps keep me physically in shape.

By faith I know the beauties of Heaven are going to be so much more elegant than what we have here, and I pray that I will be safe to save, for we know sin will not be allowed to raise its ugly head a second time. (See Nahum 1:9)

It is our desire at Hope International to encourage our readers to be faithful unto the coming of the Lord, that not one will be missing on that 7 day trip back to Heaven!

There are some fretful times ahead of us that will call for very deep commitments on each of our parts. We need to be ardent Bible students with a strong commitment to daily prayer.

As a nation, our country will soon be involved in another election year. Sunday laws cannot be too far away. Prophetically, we know that such laws are immediately upon the horizon. Other signs of the end have been occurring on a regular basis.

Our Church now has a conservative president who seems to want to take our church and our people in the right direction. I have thought about how difficult it is to be a president of a

country, or the president of a church, as our General Conference President, Ted Wilson, is. Our Church of several million people has both the wheat and the tares, the liberals and the conservatives, the ones looking for the old paths, and the ones searching for the new. It has those who differ on the nature of Christ, those who do not believe in overcoming sin, those who do not see the Catholic Church as the man of sin—the anti Christ. It has its evolutionists and Creationists. It has its feast day keepers. It has those who do not believe in the prophetic ability of Ellen White. Where does each of us stand? As a General Conference President, how do you approach all this? How do you really have any authority? I personally believe that Ted Wilson is a godly man seeking to be what God would have him be. I believe that he is a man of prayer and Bible study. I know he needs the prayers of God’s faithful people. HMS Richards once wrote: “The Lord has given to every man his work. It is his business to do it and the devil’s business to hinder him if he can. So surely as God has given you a work to do, Satan will try to hinder you. He may present other things more promising. He may allure you with worldly prospects; he may assault you with slander, torment you with false accusations, set you to work to defend your character, employ pious persons to lie about you, editors to assail you, and excellent men to slander you…” Certainly the devil will be after Ted Wilson as President, and each of us

individually. Recently, in his speech to ASI, Ted Wilson warned the people about spiritual formation coming into our beloved church. His speech began as follows: “God has promised that as we follow His counsel and His ways that His work will prosper and we will finish strong. However, the devil does everything he can to deter God’s people from following Biblical council. He brings in every possible aberration and confusing idea that will throw God’s people off-track from finishing strong…. “Guard against mystical beliefs and practices that are finding their way into the church through formats like spiritual formation, and the emerging church. The basis of much of this is an emphasis on the experiential and emotional rather than a strong foundation on the Word of God…. “Stay away from mystical forms of prayer….Resist worship styles and music that have more to do with self-centered entertainment than a humble worship of God….Avoid the practice of inviting major spiritual speakers who are not Seventh-day Adventists….” And I might add, don’t go where error is being preached! To bring all these thoughts together, I would again emphasize what is ahead of us as we faithfully make our way toward Heaven. We need to realize that there will be many attempted blockages along the way, and only through strong Bible study and faithful every-day prayer will our trip be successful.

MAY THE LORD BE YOUR COMPANION AND GUIDE!

So surely as God has given you a work to do, Satan will try to hinder you

Clark Floyd, editor of Our Firm Foundation magazine, has been co-host of the radio program Bible Answers with Clark and Lee and is a licensed attorney and an ordained Seventh-day Adventist pastor. He has spoken internationally and makes his home in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina.

Volume 26, Number 11 3

Our Mission:It is the mission of Hope International and the editors of Our Firm Foundation to clearly present Christ and His truth. The days remaining for this world are few, and we must work quickly. We must boldly proclaim the historic truths

firm a foundation in the midst of this troubled world. —Editor

Executive Director: Joe Olson

Editor: Clark Floyd

Director of Hope For Health: Heather Olson, N.D., R.N., C.H.

Bookstore Manager: Kaye Olson

Layout & Design: Jessica Sipe

About Hope International:We are a lay ministry founded, supported, and operated by

God’s Church in the proclamation

way that is consistent with the

Inspiration.

Invitation to Writers

for possible publication in Our Firm Foundation. We prefer that submissions be submitted in Word .doc format as a computer file. Include a digital picture and a short bio. Please address all correspondence to Editor, Our Firm Foundation

hopeint.org.

Subscription Information: See page

Content credited in this publication is the property of its respective owner(s) and is licensed or used with permission. Other items are the property of Hope International.

is published monthly by: HopeInternational

Contents November 2011 Volume 26, Number 11

cover story 06 In the Throne

Room of Grace Patricia J. T. Smith

features 04 The Bible

Museum Opened A.L.O.E

11 Sin Condemned in the Flesh Mrs. E. G. White

14 How to Return/ Come to God Joe Olson

19 May Be Sharer Llewellyn A. Morrison

20 Meade MacGuire

22 T. A. Zoller

departments 02 Editorial

23 Christian Crossword

24 Health Gem Excitotoxins Part 3:

What IS the “Secret” Ingredient?

28 News Watch

30 Ellen White's Vision

ad features 27 Mega Multi

29 Super Kelp

FOUNDATIONour firm

FOUNDATIONour firm

Hope InternationalP.O. Box 220Knoxville, Illinois 61448 USA

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The Bible Museum OpenedBy A. L. O. E.

1883

There are many objects of deep interest for the student of Scripture, the accounts that have been “written for our learning”, objects we are to contemplate with earnest interest and from which we can draw rich spiritual lessons.

Jonathan’s BowThere is a pathetic interest in

this memorial of Jonathan, prince of Israel. When the mental eye rests on the unstrung bow once grasped in his strong firm hand, we recall the touching lament of David

over him who fell on the mountain of Gilboa. “How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places. I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women!”

We think of Jonathan going with his bow in his hand, to

warn DavidThere are few characters in the

Old Testament that stand before us in more life-like reality than that of Jonathan, few that so much attract our sympathy and love. We think of him less as the hero, attacking almost

alone the Philistine garrison, or falling covered with wounds, at the fatal battle of Gilboa, as the faithful friend, in close communion with one whom he loved as his own soul. We think of him going forth into the field as Ramah with his bow in his hand, to give warning to David, then lying concealed behind the stone

Ezel;

sadness on the prince’s brow, stern sorrow in his spirit, but unchanging love in his heart. Touching is the account of that stolen interview between the prince and his persecuted friend, when they kissed one another, and wept one with another, till David exceeded.

Jonathan and David - a picture of what friendship

should beIn the love between David and

Jonathan we see an exquisite picture of what friendship should be; and as Jonathan’s constancy was put to a far sharper test than that of the man whom he loved, let us for our own instruction examine a little into the leading characteristics of the friendship of the prince of Israel. There are few amongst us so desolate or so cold-hearted as not to have friendship for at least one being upon earth; let us now try its strength and its nature by comparing it with the deep, disinterested attachment of Jonathan for one who was preferred before him, one who was to supersede him, the shepherd lad who was chosen to sit upon the throne to which the king’s son seemed the natural heir.

The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of DavidIn the first place, Jonathan’s

friendship had a religious basis, the only one which can ensure

stability. It was when David had appeared before Saul

as a conqueror through


faith that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David. Theirs was peculiarly friendship in the Lord. In the last solemn meeting which was ever to be theirs upon the earth, when Jonathan by the wilderness of Jiph sought out David in the wood, he gave religious encouragement to his friend; he strengthened his hand in God.

Are we indeed friends to those who we never attempt

to draw to the Lord? Is not that friendship wanting in

the noblest attribute of which the bonds only regard this brief state of being? Are we indeed friends to those with whom we never interchange thoughts on the highest subjects, those whom we have never made the slightest attempt to draw closer to the Lord? Affection is a most powerful lever; have we made use of it to elevate the character of those whom we love? Or do we flatter their foibles, foster their vanity, make their very affection towards us act as a clog to their souls? There are times when unselfish attachment is best seen in not only “strengthening in the Lord”, but tenderly rebuking.“Who speaks not needed truth lest he

offend, Hath spared himself, but sacrificed

his friend.”

Jonathan’s friendship was perfectly free from selfishness

Had there been in him the taint of ambition, covetousness, or envy, he would rather have been inclined, like his father, to hate, than to love, the young shepherd. Jonathan was of royal descent, the eldest son of a king; he must have been accustomed from

youth to hear the voice of flattery, and to receive the homage of

respect. Few readily part

with dignity; but the son of Saul, without a murmur, apparently without a feeling of regret, yielded place to the son of Jesse.

Are we content to let our friend’s fame eclipse our

own?And Jonathan was not only a

prince but a hero; he had deservedly won both popularity and fame. David eclipsed him in both. In the song of the women of Israel—“Saul had slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands”—there seems not to have been an allusion to the distinguished courage of Jonathan. How a proud heart would have chafed under such neglect! What drops of bitter jealousy would have poisoned the friendship of most men in the position of the prince! Can we see a friend of lowlier birth pass before us in the race of honour without an envious pang? Are we perfectly content to let his fame eclipse our own; and do we feel nothing but pleasure in listening to praises bestowed upon him? Then is our unselfish friendship worthy of the name!

Jonathan’s attachment to David was firm under

difficulties The prince had duties to balance;

he had to be submissive to the father who persecuted the friend. In a very remarkable manner Jonathan combined filial respect to Saul with fidelity to David. His mild but earnest, and for awhile successful, pleading with his father, his remaining with that guilty parent even after the tyrant had attempted his life, so that in death they were not divided, are beautiful traits in the prince. Saul was a persecutor—a murderer; his conduct

must have wrung the heart of his pious son; but in life, as well as in death, that son seems to have kept near to his parent, without for one moment betraying the cause of his injured friend.

And, lastly, Jonathan’s friendship was tried in

trouble He was no summer-day lover, but

a brother born for adversity, who clung the more closely to David as the tempest raged the more fiercely around him. Jonathan’s was love strong as death. If our hearts be warmed with friendship, is it holy, unselfish, generous, unchanging friendship such as his?

Jonathan’s bow was a type of himself

We are inclined, with David, to mourn over Jonathan, and feel that his fate was a hard one; that he suffered for sins not his own. But let us remember that the Lord reserves for those who love Him a far brighter crown than that which Jonathan was not permitted to wear, and that it was doubtless in mercy that he was called to close on Gilboa his brief but glorious career, so that he survived not to witness the ruin of his house. Jonathan’s bow was a type of himself. He was not as a weapon left to hang idle in a royal armory; he was taken into the field of strife; he was bent in the hand of the Lord; but the hand that bent supported him still. His afflictions strained like the tightened cord, but they were strengthened to bear the sore strain; and the bending and the straining were but to send the arrow of his hopes above an earthly scepter or diadem, and fix them on higher joys, a crown that fadeth not away.


In the Throne Room of Grace

By Patricia J. T. Smith

In Romans 5:21, under the familiar imagery of powerful kings, the Holy Spirit, through the apostle Paul, represents the influences of sin and grace. “That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign

through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Notice the contrasts presented in this verse: sin vs. grace and righteousness, death vs. eternal life. Jesus Christ our Lord is associated only with grace,

righteousness, and eternal life, not with sin and death. Jesus Christ is our only Savior from sin and death. His grace reigns through righteousness, never apart from it. This truth will become more significant, in relation to how a Christian is called to live, when we discover the Bible’s definition of “righteousness”.

Not even by a thought did Jesus fall under the bondage

of King Sin Our Lord and Savior is so completely separated and removed from sin that He never once committed sin. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” 1 Peter 2: 21, 22. (See also Hebrews 4:14, 15). Not even by a thought did Jesus fall under the bondage of King Sin, and we are called to follow His example of resisting sin. The deeper significance of His battle against sin and what His example means to us will be opened to our minds when we learn the Biblical definition of “sin”.

Satan is the father of transgressing God’s law

Is there a being in the Bible who is identified with sin as Jesus is identified with grace? Yes, there is. He is “the great dragon...that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan...”Revelation 12:9. Even more than this, it is revealed


in scripture that he invented sin, sinning from the beginning. “He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8. “Ye are of your father the devil and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44. Here in John 8:44, we are given some hints into the nature and character of sin. Notice that two of the Devil’s inventions- murder and lying- are direct violations of two of the Ten Commandments – “Thou shalt not kill (Exodus 20:13) and “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Satan, the Devil, is fully identified with the breaking and transgression of God’s law, for he is the father of it.

Jesus came to accomplish our deliverance from sin

It is the natural, unconverted and carnal heart of man that agrees with the Devil in his hatred and defiance of the law of God, for as a result of Adam’s transgression, we are naturally captives of King Sin, doomed to die. “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Romans 8:6, 7. “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14. Although we are not born sinners, for sin is an act and not a state of being, we will, at the earliest opportunity, participate in sin. It is our deliverance from the bondage of King Sin that Jesus came to accomplish. “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he

shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21.

The Father and Son could not leave the fallen race to perish forever

As we saw in Romans 5:21, the reign of King Sin ends in death, and as this death is contrasted with eternal life, we understand, that this death, being the opposite of eternal life, is eternal death. Demonstrating Their great love for fallen humanity, the Father and the Son could not leave the sinful race to perish forever, but set in motion the already conceived rescue plan of salvation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8.

Sin goes against the law of God

In John 8:44, we saw that sin goes against the law of God. In 1 John 3:4, in the only Biblical definition for “sin”, John makes it even more plain that this is indeed the case. “Whosoever committeth

sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” The transgression of the law is the breaking of the Ten Commandments, which constitute the only law given by God to mankind that points out what sin is. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust,

except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:7. Paul here quotes the first four words of the tenth commandment in Exodus 20:17 as the law that revealed to his mind what the sin of lust was. He leaves no doubt that it is the Ten Commandment law that is the detector of sin and without it we would have no knowledge of sin.

Jesus was obedient to the Ten Commandments

Since Jesus did not commit any sin, transgressing the law of God, it is obvious that He was obedient to the law, keeping the Ten Commandments. This conclusion the scriptural records confirms as truth. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s


commandments, and abide in his love.” John 15:10. The commandments of Jesus that He encourages His followers to keep, that they may abide in His love are the same Ten Commandments He kept which belong to His Father, for all that the Father has belongs to Jesus. (See John 16:15).

The Ten Commandments

are not to be confused with the law of commandments contained in ordinances,

which is also known as the ceremonial law

The ceremonial law dealt with the sacrifices of animals, offerings, meats, drinks, holydays, the new moon, various sabbath days, circumcision of male Israelites, and divers washings, which the Ten Commandments never mention. The ceremonial law also had a shadow of good things to come, i.e., the salvation brought to us through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. (See Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:16, 17; Hebrews 9:8-10; John 1:36; 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8). When Jesus died on the cross, as the Lamb of God, the need for the ceremonial law ceased, and the veil of the temple was rent in twain. (See Matthew 27:51). It was on the cross that Christ Jesus actively put the now weak and unprofitable law of commandments contained in ordinances out of the way, uniting both Jews and Gentiles in one new man, so making peace. His removal of the ceremonial law is described in the scriptures as, “broken down the middle wall of partition” (Ephesians 2:14); “abolished in his flesh the enmity”(Ephesians 2:15); having slain the enmity thereby” (Ephesians 2:16); “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.”

(Colossians 2:14); and “a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof”(Hebrews 7:18).

What is the Biblical relationship between the law

and righteousness? Now that we have seen the Bible’s definition of “sin” and understand that the Ten Commandments were not nailed to the cross after all, but are still binding on Christians today, we must ask, “What is the Biblical relationship between the law and righteousness? How does righteousness relate to the moral law?” The answer is found in Psalm 119:172, in the Old Testament, the only Bible Jesus ever read. “My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.” This verse does not define “righteousness” as “the keeping of the law” as we might expect. Instead, we are instructed that the commandments are themselves

“righteousness”. Therefore, when the Ten Commandments are lived out, righteousness is being demonstrated. And where righteousness is demonstrated, there is love in action. All the commandments of God, which constitute the righteousness of God, are based on love. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40. In other words, if you love God with all your heart, soul and mind, you will obey the first four commandments, and if you love your neighbor as yourself, you will keep the next six commandments.

Notice that it is all of the Ten Commandments that are

righteousness The Ten Commandments function as a unit. To offend in one point (commandment) is to be guilty of them all. (See James 2:8-11). It is through righteousness-all of the commandments-that King Grace has power and dominion in our lives, for without the mighty grace of God, obedience to His Ten Commandments is impossible. Grace cannot be separated from the Ten Commandments and does not operate apart from God’s moral law. This can

be more clearly understood when we use our Biblical definitions of “sin” and “righteousness” in some key texts. Remember that “sin” = “the transgression of the law” and that “righteousness” = “all thy commandments” or “all the commandments.”


Instead of “sin”, we will write “the transgression of the law” and instead of “righteousness”, we will write “all the commandments”.

A changed life is the greatest demonstration of the saving power of the grace of God

Taking another look at our opening text, Romans 5:21, using our Bible definitions, we read: “That as the transgression of the law hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through all the commandments unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” Reading this verse with our Biblical definitions makes it crystal clear that the power of grace operates, or reigns, in our lives through all the commandments and is not separated from them. A changed life is the greatest demonstration of the saving power of the grace of God. To see a life that was out of harmony with the principles of the Ten Commandments, that was full of rebellion, disobedience and defiance to God and His law, be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ, loving and keeping all ten of the commandments, is irrefutable evidence of the delivering power of God’s King Grace.What about Romans 6:14? You may now be asking, “What about that verse in Romans 6 that says we are not under the law, but under grace? Doesn’t that mean Christians do not have to keep the Ten Commandments any longer?” I agree that this is the popular understanding of Romans 6:14, but is it what the Bible teaches? The word of God does not contradict itself on any subject. Spiritual things must be compared with spiritual things in order to get the correct understanding. (See 1 Corinthians

2:13). Texts must be compared with other texts to get a clear picture of Biblical teachings. Let us now read Romans 6:14, using our Bible definition of “sin” and discover what the word of God actually says. “For the transgression of the law shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” Now we see that the apostle Paul is teaching that under the reign of King Grace, the transgression of the law (which equals King Sin) shall not have dominion over you. To say it another way, a person cannot be under the dominion of both King Sin and King Grace at the same time. To be under one is to be free of the other.

It is the breaking of the law that ceases to dominate the

believer Under King Grace, a Christian does not transgress the law any longer, but keeps the law, being a servant of all commandments. “Being then made free from the transgression of the law, ye became the servants of all the commandments.” Romans 6:18. Under grace, it is not the law that does not have dominion or power; it is the breaking of the law that ceases to dominate the believer! It is King Sin that no longer holds the true believer in Jesus under bondage. In Romans 6:14, “under the law” and “under grace” are presented as opposites. Since being “under grace” means that the Christian ceases to transgress the law of Ten

Commandments, then being “under the law” means that the unbeliever continues to break and disobey the law. Those “under the law” (verse 14) are “the servants of sin” (verse 20). It is unbelievers who still serve King Sin who are free from all the commandments, which are righteousness. “For when ye were the servants of the transgression of the law, ye were free from all the commandments.” Romans 6:20. Being under the law means that we are condemned by the law as transgressors. This is what Paul says in so many words in Romans 3:19. “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them that are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Clearly, “under the law” = “guilty.” A person is guilty who is transgressing the law, committing sin. One who is keeping the law, by the grace of Jesus, is no longer guilty, but forgiven and obedient, and therefore is no longer “under the law”, but is now “under grace”. Remember that King Grace reigns through all the commandments. In other words, the Ten Commandments are the pipeline through which the power of King Grace is delivered to our lives. The moral law of God is the royal scepter in the hand of King Grace by which he touches us, transforming our lives to reflect the lovely character of Jesus.

Both of the apostles Paul and John agree that the Ten Commandments are still to be kept by Christians after

the cross In 1 Corinthians 7:18, 19, Paul makes it clear that circumcision, as demanded by the ceremonial law, is nothing to the Christian after the death of Christ, while the Ten Commandments are still to be obeyed. “Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is


any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised. Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.” The testimony of the apostle John agrees that the commandments are still valid for the believer. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” 1 John 5:2, 3. Here again, as in Matthew 22:37-40, the keeping of the Ten Commandments is the natural outgrowth of true love to God and man. In Revelation 14:12, John states that the saints will keep God’s commandments amid great future apostasy. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

In mercy, Jesus says, “Go and sin no more”

A prime example of what we have learned about the power of the grace of God to deliver from sin, and how forgiveness and grace do not lessen in the least the obligation to obey all ten of the commandments, is the history of the woman caught in adultery by the scribes and Pharisees and her encounter with Jesus Christ in John 8:1-11. She was definitely guilty of transgressing the seventh commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” (Exodus 20:14). She was condemned by the law, and was under the law. Her punishment, according to the civil law in Deuteronomy 22:22-24, was stoning, along with the guilty man. But Jesus showed mercy to her, instead of casting the first stone at her which, as the Sinless One, He was fully qualified to do. The same mercy He had shown to David and Bathsheba in the Old

Testament He now showed to this woman in the New Testament. After He had forgiven her and relieved her of justly deserved condemnation, He said to her, “...go and sin no more.” (Verse 11). Dragged before the sinless Son of God, the stain of the corrupting sin of adultery clinging to her flesh, this sinful woman, a servant of King Sin and condemned under the law as a transgressor, deserved to be stoned. Thrown down in the dust, she awaited the thud of the merciless stones against her trembling flesh.

King Grace touched her life with his royal scepter of

power Writing in the very dust in which she crouched so pitifully, Jesus revealed the sins of her accusers and they departed, “one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last.” (verse 9). Gently Jesus spoke forgiveness to her soul, and she made the wonderful discovery – no longer was she in the arena of judgment; she had been transported into the glorious throne room of grace! In the place of pounding rocks, she saw the outstretched hand

of her Savior. Instead of thundering voices clamoring for her destruction, she heard His tender, compassionate voice saying, “Neither do I condemn thee; go and sin no more.” With the words “go and sin no more”, King Grace touched her life with his royal scepter of power – the Ten Commandments. No longer was she to be the servant of King Sin, transgressing the law of God, imitating the Devil. Now, being made free from the transgression of the law (the reign and power of King Sin), she was to be a child of God and a servant of all the commandments, imitating Jesus. With His words, “...go, and sin no more”, He bade her, as He had his disciples earlier,

“Follow Me.”

Forgiveness, mercy and grace are not license to

indulge in even more sin Without controversy, this Biblical account demonstrates that under the reign of King Grace, sin is not welcomed or approved, but condemned, avoided, and overcome. Forgiveness, mercy, and grace are not licenses to indulge in even more sin. On the contrary, it is in the glorious throne room of King Grace and under his reign, that the power of Jesus delivers us completely from all sin, that His righteousness, which is all the commandments of God, may dominate our lives from henceforth.

Patricia is a second -generation SDA writer who loves to study and share the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. She enjoys biking, rock collecting, and spending time with

family. She resides in Louisiana with her husband and two children.


Sin Condemned in the FleshBy Mrs. E. G. White

“God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Though tempted, Jesus did not surrender His allegiance to God

Satan declared that it was impossible for the sons and daughters of Adam to keep the law of God, and thus charged upon God a lack of wisdom and love. If they could not keep the law, then there was fault with the Lawgiver. Men who are under the control of Satan repeat these accusations against God, in asserting that men can not keep the law of God. Jesus humbled himself, clothing his divinity with humanity, in order that he might stand as the head and representative of the human family, and by both precept and example condemn sin in the flesh, and give the lie to Satan’s charges. He was subjected to the fiercest temptations that human nature can know, yet he sinned not; for sin is the transgression of the law. By faith he laid hold upon divinity, even as humanity may lay hold upon infinite power through him. Altho tempted upon all points even as men are tempted, he sinned not. He did not surrender his allegiance to God, as did Adam.

To relieve suffering on the Sabbath is in harmony with the law of God

The Pharisees accused Christ of breaking the Sabbath because he had healed a man upon the Sabbath day; but his words made it evident that he had not violated the command of God. He declared that they were ignorant both of the Scriptures and the power of God, and reminded them that if they had known what this meaneth, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice”, they would not have condemned the guiltless. He carried their minds back to the law and to the testimony, to the words which he himself had spoken when enshrouded in the pillar of cloud, and revealed to them the principles of the law of God. He

showed them that to relieve the suffering of either man or beast on the Sabbath day was in harmony with the commandment of God. He said to them: “What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out? How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days.” He pointed them to the action of David, how when he was hungry, and they that were with him, “he entered into the house of God, and did eat the showbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests.”

Christ fulfilled every specification of the lawIt was their own ignorance of the true import of

the law of God that emboldened them to charge upon Christ the sin of Sabbath-breaking. Could they have found one action that violated any commandment in the Decalogue, they would have lost no time in condemning Christ. But it was because no fault could be found in him that they had to hire men to bear false witness against him.

In their anxiety and determination to put him to death, they had to perjure their souls.

Christ took human nature upon him, and became a debtor to do the whole law in behalf of those whom he represented. Had he failed in one jot or tittle, he would have been a transgressor of the law, and we would have had in him a sinful, unavailing offering. But he fulfilled every specification of the law, and condemned sin in the flesh; yet many ministers repeat the falsehoods of the scribes, priests, and Pharisees, and follow their example in turning the people away from the truth.

Christ removed every excuse from fallen man for not keeping the law of God

God was manifested in the flesh to condemn sin in the flesh, by manifesting perfect obedience to all the law of God. Christ did no sin, neither was guile found in his


mouth. He corrupted not human nature, and, tho in the flesh, he transgressed not the law of God in any particular. More than this, he removed every excuse from fallen man that he could urge for a reason for not keeping the law of God. Christ was compassed with the infirmities of humanity, he was beset with the fiercest temptations, tempted on all points like as men, yet he developed a perfectly upright character. No taint of sin was found upon him.

In our same human nature Christ developed a perfect character

Through the victory of Christ the same advantages that he had are provided for man; for he may be a partaker of a power out of and above himself, even a partaker of the divine nature, by which he may overcome the corruption that is in the world through lust. In human nature Christ developed a perfect character. “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; tho he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the Author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”

We are not hopelessly in bondage to sin and Satan The humanity of Christ is called “that holy thing”. The

inspired record says of Christ, “He did no sin”, he “knew no sin”, and “in him was no sin”. He was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners”. He “tabernacled among men”. This testimony concerning Christ plainly shows that he condemned sin in the flesh. No man can say that he is

hopelessly subject to the bondage of sin and Satan. Christ has assumed the responsibilities of the human race, and the sins of all that believe are charged to him. He has engaged to be liable for them. He obeyed every jot and tittle of the law, to testify before unfallen worlds, before holy angels, before the fallen world, that those who believe in him, who accept of him as their sin-offering, who rely upon him as their personal Saviour, will be advantaged by his righteousness, and become partakers of his divine nature. He testifies that through his imputed righteousness the believing soul shall obey the commandments of God.

The obligation to keep all of God’s commandments has never been removed

John pointed to Christ, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world!” The Son of the infinite God does not remove from man his obligation to keep all of God’s commandments. But with Christ formed within, the apostle declares, “Ye are complete in him, which is the Head of all principality and power.” All our transgressions are transferred to Christ. While he who knew no sin was made sin for us, and the sinless is accounted sinful, the righteousness of Christ is placed upon the undeserving, so that the repenting sinner is declared to be sinless before God. But if a man blinds himself to the light, and hardens his conscience, and will not acknowledge himself as a sinner lost and undone, and in need of a Savior, his sin will remain. He does not believe in the only-begotten Son of the infinite God. Like Cain he refuses to offer to God the blood of the Son of God. He refuses to acknowledge that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only- begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The Father’s heart is open to receive all who return to Him

It is all-important that we understand the art of believing, that we individually accept the provision which has been made whereby we may have eternal life. Divine


compassion was moved by the ruin of man, and God sent Christ into the world in order that his own arm might bring salvation to the human race, who were found in peril, in helplessness, and bound in captivity to Satan’s chariot car. God beheld man lost and ruined, and with no possibility of recovering himself. His intrusted capabilities and powers were perverted from their intended design, and degraded in the service of self, Satan, and sin. He saw men dropping the solemn realities of eternity from their reckoning, and, viewing the ruin to which they were hastening, divine compassion is moved for a fallen world, and provision for their recovery is made from the limitless resources of divine love. Provision is made that those who discern their apostasy may return to their allegiance. Those who return will find the Father’s heart open to receive them, full of yearning tenderness and compassion towards them. Human agents are all too precious to God to be left without every possible effort on his part for their recovery. In the recovery of every soul, God will realize a peculiar joy. “Likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”

Evidences of Faith: It was for the recovery of the law that Christ exhibited

holy integrity in the midst of universal corruption, and manifested unwavering adherence to the right when truth, equity, and righteousness were objects of popular contempt and scorn. He lived out the law of God, thus giving fullest recognition of the supreme right of God to govern and to

be obeyed even in a world sunken in unbelief and making void his law. The more severely he was tried, the more faithfully did he adhere to the truth of God. This must also be our experience, and if we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, the more surely will we be partakers of his glory. The more decided the unbelief and corruption of the world become, the more clear and conspicuous should the integrity and loyalty of the followers of Christ shine forth. The more generally apostasy prevails, the more steadfast should the children of God stand in defense of the laws of God’s government.

Christ stood like a rock when wickedness swelled around Him

Christ is our example. When wickedness was swelling like a roaring torrent around him, he stood like a rock. He was a true,

faithful, authoritative, unbending witness for God. What a character was that of Christ! By beholding him, we shall become changed into his image, from character to character. If we would indeed be witnesses for Christ, we must behold him, work as he worked, pray as he prayed. We must fight the fight of faith, clad in the armor of Christ’s righteousness. Christ declared that he did nothing of himself, but only that which he saw his Father do.

We must earnestly contend for the faith Ministers of God, study the lesson of the life of Christ.

Jude describes Christians as those “that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.” To those he gives this salutation: “Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied. Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

ST, January 16, 1896

Ellen G. White, 1827–1915, received the spiritual gift of prophecy, and the fruits of her life and work accord with the biblical tests of a true messenger of God. To this day, her counsels are an incalculable blessing to God’s people around the world.


HOW TO RETURN/COME TO GOD

By Joe Olson

My message today is somewhat of a continuation of my message, “The Box That Had No Power”. If you did not have the opportunity to read that message, it might be a blessing to you to obtain a copy of it.* The Philistines and the Israelites were at war, and during the battles, which the Israelites lost, the ark of God was taken. My earlier message dealt with the ark being in the Philistine’s possession. This message has to do with the ark being in the Israelite’s possession now.

This box is no longer wanted by the Philistines

The Philistines have finally decided that they no longer desire to have the ark of God in their country. They had had it for seven long months, but after 60% of their nation is destroyed, and countless men have died, they no longer want this box. So, they do all they can to “appease” this God of the Hebrews, and God accepts their repentance, such as it was.

The ark is carried by a pair of kine, or cows, in a new cart, along with some trespass offerings, and the ark ends up, through no man’s leading, in Bethshemesh. The Bethshemeshites, who were Israelites, did not have the respect due to God that they should have had, and they presumed to look inside the ark. For this lack of respect, God needed to

punish them. But there was a greater need than simple punishment for presumption. This was downright disobedience. No one was to look inside that ark. No one was even to touch it, unless it was a Levite, set apart for the service of God.

Bethshemesh was infested with unbelievers who could not enter into the promised

landBut these Bethshemeshites did not

believe that there would be any harm in looking in the ark. Bethshemesh was infested with unbelievers. In the days of the unbelieving Israelites in their wilderness experience, God could not take them into the promised land because of their unbelief. “But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” Heb. 3:17-19.

That was many years ago, but God

is in the same position now as He was then. These Bethshemeshites lived on the very borders of the Philistines. You know they heard about the miraculous manifestations of destruction upon the Philistine towns and people because of their persistent refusal to accept that God was not in that box, and that they could not control Him.

The Lord smote 50,070 of the men of Bethshemesh because

they looked into the ark God had very, very specific

instructions about who could touch, handle or even look upon the ark of the covenant. The Philistines were ignorant of those instructions, but not the Israelites. But they had lost all sense of how serious God is about what He says. God knew that if He was to get the attention of these wayward Jews, it would have to be very dramatic. Gentle hints and subtle reminders are not going to work for people who know the truth and simply ignore it.

So, what does He do to the people of Bethshemesh for looking into the ark? “And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.” 1 Sam. 6:19. 50,070 men died for their transgression. Of course the people lamented over having 50,000+ men die of their town. Can you imagine


the catastrophic effect of losing 50,000 wage earners, and fathers, and sons, and husbands, from one town, or area? Today the news goes crazy when a town loses 500 or 5,000 jobs. Imagine if the number was 50,000! Imagine greater that not only the jobs were lost, but the men as well. When we hear of a helicopter going down with 20 men in it, in an actual war, we grieve the great loss. Try to envision the feelings if it was 50,000 men who died!

It took the lives of all those men to get the respect back

for GodWell, what impact did this great

slaughter have on the remaining Israelites? “And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?” 1 Sam. 6:20.

I have no idea how many men were left, after losing 50,070 of them, but whoever remained seemed to get it now. “Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God?” All of a sudden, the holiness, and respect, and proper fear for God has returned. But it took the death of over 50,000 men to get that respect back.

I’d like to raise a question here. If getting the respect back for God would only have taken the death of one, or ten, or a hundred men, do you think God would have done that instead? Can you even imagine God desiring the death of 50,000+ people? God always wants to do it the

easy way! It was 50,070 men. Why 50,070? Why not an even 50,000? Surely 50,000 would have had the desired effect! Do you think that God would have killed an additional 70 men for no reason? Do you think He would have deprived another 70 families of their fathers and sons and brothers… just because? I believe it was 50,070 because that was the exact number it took to get the respect back.

God will do whatever it takes to arrest our attention to our

wrong courseGod doesn’t do overkill. If there

is anyone who is exact, down to the smallest decimal, it is God Almighty! Just like with the Israelites who left Egypt. The only ones allowed to enter the promised land, of those 20 years old or older, were Caleb and Joshua. “Your carcases shall fall in this wilderness; and all that were numbered of you, according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have

murmured against me, Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware to make you dwell therein, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.” Num. 14:29-30. In this case, it was men and

women… hundreds and hundreds of thousands! Was God just going overboard, or did it take that many to correct the problem of unbelief? Looking back, I guess you could say there was a dramatic improvement with only 50,070 dying, except that this was just one town, not the whole nation. But, whatever it takes, God is willing to do, to try to get the people back on track. We should remember that when we are going in the wrong direction. God will do whatever it takes to try to arrest our attention to our wrong course. He would prefer a subtle hint, but He will do whatever it takes. Personally, I hope it never takes 50,000 people dying to get my attention.

The Bethshemeshites, though still not repentant, now have

a correct understanding of the box

Now, the men of Bethshemesh feel the holiness of God and they are afraid of doing anything else wrong, and they want God’s box out of their area. Mind you, they do not fear the box, but the God the box represents. At least THAT issue has been dealt with now. The idea of the box having power has been replaced with the correct understanding… that it is the God the box represents that is important.

“And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.” 1 Sam. 6:21. You see, even though there may now be a healthy respect for God, the men that were left of Bethshemesh were still not repentant. They were just scared. And they wanted the box away from them.

The people of Kirjathjearim wanted God, and the box, with

them But the people of Kirjathjearim

have a whole different attitude about


the ark of God. They want the ark. “And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD.” 1 Sam. 7:1.

Look at the difference in how the people of Kirjathjearim treated the ark of God. Abinadab was a Levite. The Levites, remember, were the only ones who were set apart to care for the furniture, and tent, and sacrifices of the tabernacle services. Abinadab “sanctified” his son, Eleazar, to keep the ark of the Lord. There was no desire to look in the ark…There was no thought, or plan, for any power as a result of having the box. The box was special because they knew it represented God’s presence and they were happy about it! They WANTED God with them! It was a totally different attitude.

Having the name ‘Jew’ or ‘Christian’ makes no

difference to GodSo, as a result, nothing bad

happened to them… nor did anyone die because of the ark’s presence. No death; no emerods; no nothing… for 20 years! This was yet another proof that there was no power, good or bad, in the box itself. The power was always with God, and what happened to the people, happened to them as a result of their attitude and connection to Him.

By the way, just as an aside, you will note that the bad things happened to both the Philistines, or unbelievers, and the Jews, or the so-called believers. Having the name, “Jew” or “Christian” makes no difference to God. It‘s what’s in the heart. It makes no difference to God what denomination you are if you are not His child in your heart. You can even be a trusted disciple, living and working and praying next to Him for three

and a half years… and still be lost. Proximity to Christ and being called a disciple of Christ did not help Judas, did it?

Israel finally misses their LordBut the Jews of Kirjathjearim really

did love the Lord and followed His commands and everything went well for them. But the rest of Israel? Fifty thousand and seventy men and twenty years! That’s how many people had to die and how many years it took for the rest of the Jews to decide they wanted God back in their lives. Actually, if you included the original 34,000 men that died in the two battles with the Philistines, you have 84,070 people and 20 years! Isn’t it amazing how far God has to go to get our attention sometimes?

But, it did… finally… have the impact God was working toward. “And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.” 1 Sam. 7:2. Do you note the change of heart and attitude now? What did they lament over? The ark, or the God the ark represented? It’s not the box anymore that they want. They miss their Lord and Master. They want, really want, to be God’s children again. THIS is what God was looking for. THIS is what took 20 years and 84,070 people to die for. THIS is what He waits and works for, in each one of us!

You must turn to God with all your heart

And as soon as their hearts turn toward God, He tells them what they need to do, through His prophet… “And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Sam. 7:3.

Samuel says to them, “If you really do want to turn back to the Lord, there are four things that are necessary. These are the same four

steps for anyone who has turned away from serving the living God. These are the same four things that are necessary for anyone who wants to turn to God, whether you have been there before or not. Number one, if you turn to God, you must do it with all your heart. A halfway, lackluster, aimless wandering will not get you where you want to go. Many people never “find” God because


their heart is not really in it. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13. This is such an important first step, and many people lose interest and desire because they really didn’t invest themselves in the search fully. With God, it is all or nothing.

“All” is used extensively throughout the scriptures for

a reason Joshua was telling the Israelites,

after they had possessed the promised land, what to continue to do to be successful and blessed… “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Josh. 22:5. The word “all” is used extensively throughout the scriptures, referring to how committed we have to be to God.

That’s one of the reasons we keep the Sabbath commandment. You can’t keep just nine of the commandments. It’s all of them, or none of them. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10. There can be no divided loyalty. That’s what started sin in the first place, and as we read in Nahum 1:9, affliction shall not rise up a second

time. The only people God can safely take to heaven are those who will never break their loyalty again.

What, or who, is first in your life?

The second point Samuel made to the Jews who wanted their God again was that they needed to “put away the strange gods

and Ashtaroth from among you…”. First, seek after God with ALL your heart. Second, put away the gods you have been serving. Whatever has been first, or more important than God, has to be put away. Has your job been first in your life? If you want to have God in your heart, the job cannot remain your top priority. Many people, especially relating to the Sabbath, want to serve and obey God, but they have to work on His holy Sabbath, for whatever reason. Then who, or what, is most important to you? I’ve heard people say, “Oh, I want to serve and obey God, but my husband or wife, or family or friends just wouldn’t understand.” Then who is first in your life? Whatever God asks you to do, must become the priority in your life. THIS is where so many people fail in their Christian walk. When you hear you are a sinner and you need a Saviour, many people recognize that truth, and turn to Jesus. They accept the Lord and life is wonderful in their newfound faith. But then, the Spirit begins to impress upon our minds areas in our lives that need change. We

have many gods in our lives that have to be removed in order to maintain our relationship with Jesus. The housecleaning starts.

Some of us have gotten very attached to our old gods and

don’t want to let them go Without even knowing it, we have

become very comfortable with sin. The Jews had done the same thing. They were very comfortable with sin in their lives. They had all sorts of gods. You have no need for me to tell you what gods they had, or that we have. Whatever you do, or have, that does not deepen your relationship with Jesus is a god that needs to be removed. Whatever takes you away from being a better Christian is a god that needs to be removed. The Jews wanted to return to the true God. Samuel said, “If you want to come back, you must come back with all your heart, and you must remove, or “put away”, the “strange gods” from your life.

What does it mean to prepare your heart?

The third thing Samuel said needed to be done was to “prepare your hearts unto the Lord”. What exactly does that mean… to prepare our hearts? Another Bible translation says it this way…“Dedicate yourselves completely to the LORD.” Another excellent translation is this…“Make


a commitment to the LORD.” Yet another says, “Direct your hearts unto Jehovah.” I think we see the point.

The Hebrew word for “prepare” is “koon”, pronounced “kun”, like “bun”. That word means to “set up” – “establish” – “fix” – “prepare” – “apply” – “appoint” and/or “render sure.” The point is that we are not just to turn to God with all our hearts, and to remove the gods from our lives, but that we then need to “get ourselves ready” for the real God to come in. Mentally and spiritually, and even physically, we need to get ready for Jesus to be in our hearts. Mentally, determine that you will let nothing get in the way of following Jesus. Spiritually prepare by reading His word, praying, and fellowshipping with like believers. Physically apply yourselves by being in the best health you can be in to have your mind clear to listen to that “still small voice”.

No man can serve two masters

And finally, Samuel told the Jews that they needed to “serve Him only”. Serve God ONLY! You cannot have more than one master. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matt. 6:24. This sounds a little like the second point Samuel made of not having any other gods and to put those gods away. And it is. Why do you suppose there was such reiteration? Because we have such a problem with it.

First it was to “return” with ALL our hearts. Then it was “put away” our other “gods”. After that we were to “prepare, establish, or set up our hearts” toward God. And finally, don’t have any other gods. After we have turned to God, and put away our other gods, and determined, or prepared our hearts to serve God, we often imperceptibly fall back into allowing other gods, idols, masters or whatever you want to call them,

to come back into our lives. We were told this one twice because this is where our problem lies.

Here is the devil’s plan…1. Don’t return to God.2. If you do return to God,

don’t return with ALL your heart… just make it half-hearted… no need to get too carried away.

3. If you make a full return, then come with at least a few of your gods. I mean, after all, you should still get to do some of what you want… right?

4. If you get rid of all your gods, then for sure do not prepare to serve God by reading, study and prayer.

5. And finally, if the devil cannot get you to go to God half-heartedly, if he cannot get you to take a few of your gods along with you, if he cannot keep you from preparing to serve God by study and prayer, than at the very, very least, don’t serve God ONLY.

Go ahead and serve God, but serve at least one other as well. He doesn’t care what god. It can be the god of TV, or the god of food, the god of laziness, the god of selfishness, the god of impatience, the god of an unforgiving heart… just pick at least one. Because if you don’t… if you follow God’s instructions through Samuel to the letter, the devil will lose you forever and you will go to heaven.

The hand of the Lord was with Israel, and it can be with

us as wellSo, what did the Israelites do

with God’s instruction? “Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.” 1 Sam. 7:4. They recommitted, or committed, their lives to the Lord. And the devil went crazy and stirred up the Philistines to do them in. But

God took care of that for them… “And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.” 1Sam. 7:10. And this was not just a particular battle that God helped them win… no, no, the Philistines never bothered them again, not for all the days of Samuel. “So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.” 1 Sam. 7:13. By the way, the “hand of the Lord” was with them, not because of Samuel, but because they stayed committed to God all the days of Samuel. If we will follow these few and simple instructions, God’s hand will be with us all our days as well. May God enable us to see how easily the devil can be defeated, is my prayer.

*Editor’s note: The article “The Box That Had No Power” can be found in the October, 2011, issue of Our Firm Foundation. Both of these articles are complete in themselves.

Joe Olson serves as the executive director and chairman of the board of Hope International. He also travels as an international speaker.

EVERY SINNER MAY BE SHARERBy Llewellyn A. Morrison

“Thou shalt have joy and gladness”There are brighter things before usThan the brightest we have known,For our Father will restore us,By the largess of his throne,Every silvery sunbeam shaded,All the blessedness above,Till we see—by faith unaided—All the glory of his love.

There are better times awaiting,Where his royal mercies teem,And where life needs no translating,Like the phantoms of a dream;Where the truth shall rule, and ReasonBe her messenger of grace;Where, in every clime and season,Virtue hath her virgin place.

There are purer hearts in keepingFor the patient ones who prayThan the purest penance, weeping,Every wrought in cumbered clay—For the holiness investedIn the soul-redeeming blood Hath all pureness manifestedWhich the human hath in God.

There’s a fairer morning breakingFor this weary world of oursThan the fairest dawn awakingO’er a summer-land of flowers,For Immanuel will banishEvil, wrong and sin away;All the vice and crime will vanishEre that coming, perfect day.

O, the sweetness of the restingWhen the turbulence is past!O, the peace, beyond molesting,When his favors hold us fast!Brighter! Better! Purer! Fairer!He hath said, and it shall be:Every sinner may be sharer Unto all eternity.


THE LATTER RAIN

No. 9By Meade MacGuire

Editor’s Note: Several articles on the latter rain were written for the Review and Herald from June 3 to August 12, 1943, with the hope of encouraging God’s people to get ready for the outpouring of the Latter Rain—We repeat these articles for the same reason.

Let us now briefly review the points we have been considering before we conclude these studies. 1. Before leaving this world, Jesus

promised that He would return, and He gave many signs by which His people would know when His coming was at hand.

2. He declared that the generation that saw those signs would not pass till all was fulfilled, and that a special messenger would be given to

the world to prepare a people to welcome Him.

3. In connection with the giving of that message He promised a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit similar to that witness at Pentecost, only in greater measure, which would lighten the earth with His glory.

4. The signs appeared, and God was ready to finish the work many years ago, but His people were not ready, and are not yet ready.

5. God foreknew all this; He revealed in His word and made provision for our present situation by His counsel to the church of the Laodiceans, and the alarm and appeal of the prophet Joel.

6. When God’s people heed this counsel, there will be a great revival and reformation; they

will renounce and overcome all sin, and be clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness 7. Thus the way is

prepared for God to pour out the latter rain, which will bring the loud cry and finish the work of the gospel in the world.

Many do not

understand how the

latter rain can be

obtained

Another vital question connected with this study should have our careful consideration. Thousands of God’s people are longing for the Saviour to come. They are working and praying to that end, and are trying daily to overcome their sins and be ready when the latter rain comes. But they do not understand why the latter rain does not come, nor realize that it is our own condition that prevents the showers from falling. They have not been impressed with the emphatic statement, “I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’, unless they obtain the victory over every besetment.” And when their attention is called to this statement, they do not understand how such an experience can be obtained. Some are inclined to be discouraged, fearing that such a high standard is unobtainable by them. But it is God who has made this requirement, and He has revealed plainly how it may be obtained. The important thing is to believe that God means just what He says, and to pray humbly and earnestly for light to understand, and


to cooperate with Him. Here is His command:

“Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt. 5:48.

And here

is the

promise:

“The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thes. 5:23 & 24.

“None need fail of attaining, in his sphere, to perfection of Christian character. By the sacrifice of Christ, provision has been made for the believer to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness. God calls upon us to reach the standard of perfection and places before us the example of Christ’s character. In His humanity, perfected by a life of constant resistance of evil, the Saviour showed that through co-operation with divinity, human beings may in this life attain the perfection of Character. This is God’s Assurance to us that we too may obtain complete victory.” AA 531.

Salvation is the

restoration of the

Divine image

In the beginning God created man in His own image, but through sin that image has been well-nigh obliterated. Salvation is the restoration of the divine image. It must, therefore, be more than the forgiveness of sins. The promise is, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus:

for He shall save His people from their sins.” God has predestined all His children “to be conformed to the image of His Son”, and by beholding Him we are to be “changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord”. This is the goal that every true believer must set for himself.

Through love

the righteousness

of the law will be

fulfilled in us

“Jesus said, Be perfect as your Father is perfect. If you are the children of God you are partakers of His nature, and you cannot but be like Him. Every child lives by the life of his father. If you are God’s children, begotten by His Spirit, you live by the life of God. In Christ dwells “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9); and the life of Jesus is made manifest “in our mortal flesh” (2 Corinthians 4:11). That life in you will produce the same character and manifest the same works as it did in Him. Thus you will be in harmony with every precept of His law; for “the law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the

soul” (Psalm 19:7, margin). Through love “the righteousness of the law” will be “fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:4).”--Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, pp. 76-78.

We will be given a

new heart

If we have any appreciation of the wonderful provisions our loving heavenly Father has made for our salvation, we shall gladly cooperate with Him in His plan to perfect our characters. “As the sinner, drawn by the power of Christ, approaches the uplifted cross, and prostrates himself before it, there is a new creation. A new heart is given him. He becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. Holiness finds that it has nothing more to require.” COL 163.

True sanctification

means perfect love

“True sanctification means perfect love, perfect obedience, perfect conformity to the will of God. We are to be sanctified to God through obedience to the truth. Our conscience must be purged from dead works to serve the living God. We are not yet perfect; but it is our privilege to cut away from the entanglements of self and sin, and advance to perfection. Great possibilities, high and holy attainments, are placed within the reach of all.” AA 565.

Let us set our eyes resolutely upon the priceless goal of Christ-like perfection of character, studying, praying, working together with our divine Master, that through the agency of His Holy Spirit we may soon reach the goal.

SALVATION’S MESSAGE

By T. A. Zoller

O wonderful message sent down from aboveBy our heavenly Father in tenderest love,

Which tells of a Saviour who suffered and diedTo redeem man from death, tho by man crucified!

Such love and compassion was ne’er before shone;For all our transgressions, he came to atone.

This wond’rous salvation he offers to all;He’s earnestly pleading, O, now hear his call!

Accept the salvation he offers so free,The Saviour in mercy says: “Come unto me

All ye who are weary and laden with sin,I’ll carry your burdens, sweet rest you shall win;

Come learn of my ways and my yoke meekly wear,I’ll guide and protect you with tenderest care.

Now give me your heart and your hand let me take,I never will leave you, no, never forsake.”

O, how can you slight such compassionate love!He bids you to come and his promises prove.How can you turn from him so coldly away,

Still linger in sin and rebellion today!In pity he lingers, still anxious to save,

O, think of the cross—of the life that he gave,The shame and the anguish he suffered for you—

O, think will you crucify Jesus anew?

To-day is the time for you to acceptThe life that he offers. If you would be kept

From the storms that sweep over the guilty ere long,While mercy still lingers, come, join the glad throng

Whose captain is Jesus, he leads them along;His love is their theme, and his praise is their song;

And soon to the mansions he’s gone to prepareHe’ll take them, to dwell forevermore there.


Christian Crossword1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8

9

10 11

12 13

14

15 16

17

18 19 20 21

22

23

24 25

26

27

28

ACROSS2. He ventured to defy a curse of Joshua and rebuilt Jericho

7. One of the sons of Noah

10. The daughter of Jacob by Leah12. Who overthrew the house of Ahab?

20. A boy of only 12 or 13 when he was called to be a prophet in 627 B.C.22. The leaders of the Hebrew tribes before King Saul

24. The wife of Felix, the interviewer of Paul26. The priest of Nob that gave aid to David27. The crossbar connecting two oxen

DOWN

20. The daughter of King Ethbaal of Sidon21. The father of Methuselah

David’s rule

1 2 3R H G

4R I Z I M

5

R6

H O D A

N P A7

J8

9H M R J

10A

11W O N O

O R R P

D12 13

I J A H O

R14

G Y P M M

G15

A M A I D16

A G O N I17

A

N A18

M19

A A A M

P20 21 22

H I R Y H H M I

A H23

A O A A24

A M A R I A Z A25

N A N I A26

A M A R

R Z I

O P27

R I A M

V R28

N M A I N G A

N N

R29

O M C30

N R I O N

Answers from Christian Crossword published in theOctober 2011 issue of Our Firm Foundation


Health Gem

From: Food Additive Excitotoxins and Degenerative Brain Disorders by Dr. Russell Blaylock, MD

Last month we talked about excitotoxins: what they are and how they affect the brain (basically they destroy it, by killing off brain cells). “There are a growing number of clinicians and basic scientists who are convinced that a group of compounds called excitotoxins play a critical role in the development of several neurological disorders including migraines, seizures, infections, abnormal neural development, certain endocrine disorders, neuropsychiatric disorders, learning disorders in children, AIDS dementia, episodic violence, lyme borreliosis,

hepatic encephalopathy, specific types of obesity, and especially the neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease.” (1) We left off by telling you that these powerful toxins were being added to a number of foods, including baby foods. Now, you may have guessed what particular ingredient we were talking about. Those of you who do research into natural healing may already be aware of this dangerous chemical. If you don’t know, the excitotoxic chemical we were talking about last month was MSG, or monosodium glutamate. Glutamate is one of the more commonly known excitotoxins, but over seventy have thus far been identified. We’ll be discussing more of them today.

What is MSG exactly?We talked about how it was

discovered – from a type of seaweed known as kombu. But what is it? MSG is the sodium salt of glutamate. Glutamate is a normal neurotransmitter in the brain. In fact, it is the most commonly used neurotransmitter by the brain. Defenders of MSG and aspartame use usually say: How could a substance that is used normally by the brain cause harm?

This is because, glutamate, as

a neurotransmitter, exists in the extracellular fluid only in very, very small concentrations --- no more than 8 to 12uM (micrometers). When the concentration of this transmitter rises above this level, the neurons begin to fire abnormally. At higher concentrations, the cells undergo this specialized process of delayed cell death, excitotoxicity. That is, they are excited to death.

The FDA refuses to recognize the dangers

An enormous amount of both clinical and experimental evidence has accumulated over the past few decades supporting the idea that excitotoxins cause all of the damage just discussed. (2) Yet, the FDA still refuses to recognize the immediate and long term danger to the public caused by the practice of allowing various excitotoxins to be added to the food supply, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) among others (that we’ll be discussing further).

The amount of these neurotoxins

Excitotoxins Part 3: What IS the “Secret” Ingredient?

Dr. Olson

Dr. Olson comes from a long line of health professionals including MDs, naturopaths, and osteopaths. Having always wanted to help people, especially in the area of health, she was a missionary to Belize and Korea. A national speaker, an RN for years, a certified herbologist, and a naturopathic doctor, Dr. Olson is utilizing this experience and wealth of knowledge for the benefit of people all over the world.


added to our food has increased enormously since their first introduction. For example, since 1948 the amount of MSG added to foods has doubled every decade. By 1972, 262,000 metric tons (524,000,000 pounds – yes, millions) were being added to foods. Over 800 million pounds of aspartame have been consumed in various products since it was first approved. And that’s just ONE excitotoxin!

Ironically, these food additives have nothing to do with preserving food or protecting its integrity. They are all used to alter the taste of food. MSG, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, and natural flavoring are used to enhance the taste of food so as to mask disagreeable taste and magnify desired taste. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that goes by various brand names such as NutraSweet and Equal.

These toxins (excitotoxins) are not present in just a few foods, but rather in almost all processed foods. In many cases they are being added in disguised forms. Also, liquid forms of excitotoxins, as occur in soups, gravies and diet soft drinks, are more toxic than that added to solid foods. This is because they are more rapidly absorbed and reach higher blood levels.

Effects are subtle and develop slowly

It should also be noted that the effects of excitotoxin food additives generally are not dramatic. Some individuals may be especially sensitive and develop severe symptoms and even sudden death from cardiac irritability; but, in most instances, the effects are subtle and develop over a long period of time. While the food additives, MSG and aspartame (uh spar tame – like ‘a’sparagus), may not be the direct causes of the

neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s disease, or ALS, but they may well precipitate or bring on these disorders and certainly worsen their pathology as we shall see. It may be that many people with a propensity for developing one of these diseases would never develop a full blown disorder had it not been for their exposure to high levels of food-borne excitotoxin additives. Some may have had a very mild form of the disease had it not been for the exposure.

Retina destruction in mice Back to what we talked about

last month: The two scientists that fed newborn mice MSG. Do you remember what happened? They discovered that all mice demonstrated widespread destruction of the inner nerve layer of the retina. Similar destruction was also seen in adult mice, but not as severe as the newborns. According to Dr. Blaylock, the results of their experiment was published in the Archives of Ophthalmology and soon forgotten.

Mice were grossly obese and short in stature

For ten years prior to this report, large amounts of MSG had been added not only to adult foods, but also to baby foods in doses equal to those of the experimental animals. Then in 1969, Dr. John Olney, a neuroscientist and neuropathologist working out of the Department of Psychiatry at Washington University in St. Louis, repeated Lucas’ and Newhouse’s experiment. (4) In addition to the retina damage, his lab assistant noticed that the newborn of MSG exposed mice were grossly obese and short in stature. Further examination also demonstrated hypoplastic organs

(underdeveloped or incomplete development of an organ or tissue), including pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, as well as reproductive dysfunction. Physiologically, they demonstrated multiple endocrine deficiencies, including:

1. TSH – Thyroid-stimulating hormone, which regulates the endocrine function of the thyroid gland.

2. GH – Growth hormone: Stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals.

3. LH – Luteinizing hormone: Triggers ovulation in women and stimulates testosterone production in men.

4. FSH – Follicle-stimulating hormone: A hormone found in humans and other animals. It regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body. FSH and Luteinizing hormone (LH) act synergistically in reproduction.


5. ACTH – Adrenocorticotropic hormone also known as ‘corticotropin’, is an important component of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and is often produced in response to biological stress. Its principle effects are increased production and release of corticosteroids and, as its name suggests, cortisol.

Now, I repeat some of this and reiterate it to explain how very dangerous these substances are. They can contribute to almost any disease because of the variety of functions they impact. Whether you’re suffering from menstrual cramps or moodiness, weight gain or insomnia, headaches or infertility, Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, these excitotoxic substances may very well be playing a part.

MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates

Another example of how it affects weight... John Erb was a research assistant at the University

of Waterloo, and spent years working for the government. He made an amazing discovery while going through scientific journals for a book he was writing called The Slow Poisoning of America. In hundreds of studies around the world, scientists were creating obese mice and rats to use in

diet or diabetes test studies. But no strain of rat or mice is naturally obese, so the scientists had to create them. They made these morbidly obese creatures by… listen to this…. injecting them with MSG when they were first

born. He found that MSG triples the amount of insulin the pancreas creates, causing rats to become obese. Now just think of how that’s affecting humans today!! So what happened? Studies are being done left and right, excitotoxins

are being shown to have far-reaching, damaging effects and there are doctors and scientists backing this up. You’ll have to stay tuned next month to learn more! Next month we’ll talk about what happened from there and tell you the most common foods that contain excitotoxins. Stay tuned - you won’t want to miss this!

1. Ikonomidou C, Turski L. Glutamate in neurodegenerative disorders, in Stone TW (Ed.), Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators: Glutamate. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1995, pp. 253-272

2. Whetsell WO, Shapira NA. Biology of Disease. Neuroexcitation, excitotoxicity and human neurological disease. Lab Invest 1993;68:372-387.

3. Lucas DR, Newhouse JP. The toxic effect of sodium L-glutamate on the inner layer of the retina. Arch Ophthalmol 1957;58:193-201.

4. Olney JW. Brain lesions, obesity, and other disturbances in mice treated with monosodium glutamate. Science 1969;165:719-721.

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1. Time Magazine, October 3, 2011—Cracks in the Earth, page 11—India

“The tremors of a 6.9 earthquake, centered in the mountainous northeastern state of Sikkim, were felt for hundreds of miles in neighboring Nepal and China and led to at least 74 deaths. Landslides and subsequent aftershocks have complicated attempts to rescue and bring relief to those affected. Major roads in this remote corner of India have been blocked, power has gone out, and officials worry that many more people may be missing.”

END TIME PERSPECTIVE #1: “We are on the very verge of the time of trouble, and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of are before us.”--9T 43 (1909).

END TIME PERSPECTIVE #2: “We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another--fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed.”--PK 278 (c. 1914).

End Time Perspective #3: “There are stormy times before us, but let us not utter one word of unbelief or discouragement.”--ChS 136 (1905).

2. Time Magazine, October 3, 2011—No Country for Young Men, page 10--Yemen

“A three-day spasm of bloodletting led to at least 76 deaths, mostly of protestors calling for the departure of President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Activists claim

government forces in the capital, Sana’a, fired on a camp of peaceful demonstrators Sept. 18, kicking off gun battles between Saleh loyalists and tribal militias and soldiers who have defected to the opposition….Hundreds have died since protests against Saleh’s regime began in January, and the resulting instability has led to fears that the crippled Yemeni state may turn into another Somalia.”

END TIME PERSPECTIVE #1: “The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecy of the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place.—9T 14. END TIME PERSPECTIVE #2: “I was shown the inhabitants of the earth in the utmost confusion. War, bloodshed,

privation, want, famine, and pestilence were abroad in the land. . . . My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to be a little time of peace. Once more the inhabitants of the earth were presented before me; and again everything was in the utmost confusion. Strife, war, and bloodshed, with famine and pestilence, raged everywhere. Other nations were engaged in this war and confusion. War caused famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men’s hearts failed them for fear, ‘and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.’”—1T 268.

3. Time Magazine, October 3, 2011—Page 10—End Time Note, by Stephen Faris—The Pope is under fire

from a group of victims of pedophiliac priests

Stephen Faris, Time contributor in Italy, on the unlikely attempt to bring the Vatican to the international Criminal Court for not taking action against pedophilia in its clergy

END TIME PERSPECTIVE: In order to be able to bring the Vatican to the international Court, “Prosecutors would have to prove that Pope Benedict XVI belongs to the company of the perpetrators of the Rwandan genocide.”—This indicates how difficult it is to take any action against the Vatican—its power is restored.

News Watch

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The Mystery of Iniquity It has ever been the design of Satan to draw the minds of the people from Jesus to man, and to destroy individual accountability. Satan failed in his design when he tempted the Son of God; but he succeeded better when he came to fallen man. Christianity became corrupted. Popes and priests presumed to take an exalted position, and taught the people to look to them for the pardon of their sins, instead of looking to Christ for themselves. The people were wholly deceived. They were taught that the popes and priests were Christ’s representatives, when in fact they were the representatives of Satan, and those who bowed to them worshiped Satan. The people called for the Bible; but the priests considered it dangerous to let them have it to read for themselves, lest they should become enlightened and expose the sins of their leaders. The people were taught to receive every word from these deceivers as from the mouth of God. They held that power over the mind which God alone should hold. If any dared to follow their own convictions, the same hate which Satan and the Jews exercised toward Jesus would be kindled against them, and those in authority would thirst for their blood.

I was shown a time when Satan especially triumphed

Multitudes of Christians were slain in a dreadful manner, because they would preserve the purity of their religion. The Bible was hated, and efforts were made to rid the earth of it. The people were forbidden to read it, on pain of death; and all the copies which could be found were burned. But I saw that God had a special care for His Word. He protected it. At different periods there were but a very few copies of the Bible in existence, yet He would not suffer His Word to be lost, for in the last days copies of it were to be so multiplied that every family could possess it. I saw that when there were but few copies of the Bible, it was precious and comforting to the persecuted followers of Jesus. It was read in the most secret manner, and those who had this exalted privilege felt that they had had an interview with God, with His Son Jesus, and with His disciples. But this blessed privilege cost many of them their lives. If discovered, they were taken to the headsman’s block, to the stake, or to the dungeon to die of starvation.

Satan could not hinder the plan of salvation

Jesus was crucified, and rose again the third day. But Satan told his angels that he would make the crucifixion and resurrection tell to his advantage. He was willing that those who professed faith in Jesus should believe that the laws regulating the Jewish sacrifices and offerings ceased at the death of Christ, if he could push them farther and make them believe that the law of ten commandments also died with Christ.

The death of Jesus did not destroy the law of His Father, but magnified and honored it

I saw that many readily yielded to this device of Satan. All heaven was moved with indignation as they saw the holy law of God trampled underfoot. Jesus and all the heavenly host were acquainted with the nature of God’s law; they knew that He would not change or abrogate it. The hopeless condition of man after the fall caused the deepest sorrow in heaven, and moved Jesus to offer to die for the transgressors of God’s holy law. But if that law could be abrogated, man might have been saved without the death of Jesus. Consequently His death did not destroy the law of His Father, but magnified and honored it and enforced obedience to all its holy precepts.

Satan strikes directly against the foundation of God’s government

Had the church remained pure and steadfast, Satan could not have deceived them, and led them to trample on the law of God. In this bold plan, Satan strikes directly against the foundation of God’s government in heaven and on earth. His rebellion caused him to be expelled from heaven. After he rebelled, in order to save himself he wished God to change His law, but was told before the whole heavenly host that God’s law was unalterable. Satan knows that if he can cause others to violate God’s law, he has gained them to his cause; for every transgressor of that law must die.

Ellen White's Vision


Satan led his representatives to corrupt the fourth commandment

Satan decided to go still farther. He told his angels that some would be so jealous of God’s law that they could not be caught in this snare; the Ten Commandments were so plain that many would believe that they were still binding, and therefore he must seek to corrupt only one of the commandments. He then led on his representatives to attempt to change the fourth, or Sabbath, commandment, thus altering the only one of the ten which brings to view the true God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth. Satan presented before them the glorious resurrection of Jesus, and told them that by His rising on the first day of the week, He changed the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week.

The will of God was covered up with errors and traditions

Thus Satan used the resurrection to serve his purpose. He and his angels rejoiced that the errors they had prepared took so well with the professed friends of Christ. What one looked upon with religious horror, another would receive. Thus different errors were received and defended with zeal. The will of God, so plainly revealed in His Word, was covered up with errors and traditions, which have been taught as the commandments of God. Although this heaven-daring deception will be suffered to be carried on until the second appearing of Jesus, yet through all this time of error and deception, God has not been left without witnesses. Amid the darkness and persecution of the church there have always been true and faithful ones who kept all of God’s commandments.

Neither the crucifixion nor the resurrection were to alter or

abrogate God’s law I saw that the angelic host were filled with amazement as they beheld the sufferings and death of the King of glory. But I saw that it was no marvel to them that the Lord of life and glory, He who filled all heaven with joy and splendor, should break the bands of death, and walk forth

from His prison house, a triumphant conqueror. Therefore, if either of these events should be commemorated by a day of rest, it is the crucifixion. But I saw that neither of these events was designed to alter or abrogate God’s law; on the contrary, they give the strongest proof of its immutability.

Both of these important events have their memorials

By partaking of the Lord’s Supper, the broken bread and the fruit of the vine, we show forth the Lord’s death until He comes. The scenes of His sufferings and death are thus brought fresh to our minds. The resurrection of Christ is commemorated by our being buried with Him by baptism, and raised out of the watery grave, in likeness of His resurrection, to live in newness of life.

The foundation of the Sabbath was laid at creation

I was shown that the law of God would stand fast forever, and exist in the new earth to all eternity. At the creation, when the foundations of the earth were laid, the

sons of God looked with admiration upon the work of the Creator, and all the heavenly host shouted for joy. It was then that the foundation of the Sabbath was laid. At the close of the six days of creation, God rested on the seventh day from all

His work which He had made; and He blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because that in it He had rested from all His work. The Sabbath was instituted in Eden before the fall, and was observed by Adam and Eve, and all the heavenly host. God rested on the seventh day, and blessed and hallowed it. I saw that the Sabbath never will be done away; but that the redeemed saints, and all the angelic host, will observe it in honor of the great Creator to all eternity.

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Here is something to be VERY thankful for this year! - "Jesus is the fullness of our expectation. He is the melody of our songs, the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. He is living water to the thirsty soul. He is our refuge in the storm. He is our

righteousness, our sanctification, our redemption. When Christ is our personal Saviour, we shall show forth the praises of Him who

hath called us out of darkness into His marvelous light." - Reflecting Christ, page 21 -

our firm foundation - andrews university · pdf file2 our firm foundation ... wilson is a...

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